Colourfest! Katlan and Taha's Retro Chic Elopement

Katlan and Taha decided to make a bold move, go with what they wanted and have their wedding day to themselves - that's right, no guests! The result was a gorgeous and intimate wedding day under the sun, and it looked like a whole lot of fun! And although this wedding was pretty simple bride Katlan has one of my favourite bridal looks of the year. If you like pretty accessories and some old school vintage you are going to love this wedding. All perfectly captured with a huge sense of fun by the lovely Matt and Angie of Sloan Photographers.

Before being bride and groom Katlan and Taha were just a pair of co-workers. Both worked at the same hotel, along with Taha's dad - a real family affair! Although it sounds quite routine the story gets much more endearing. "Taha will always say that the first time we actually met was before he worked at the hotel, when his dad got hired there (all 3 of us ended up working there!). Taha brought his dad to Orientation that I was teaching and he claims that when he saw me he decided he also wanted to get a job there! We ended up working together for about 5 years before we went on a date…I think he was too scared to ask the Human Resources person out. But eventually he asked me out and that’s how it began!" Surprisingly lots of our lovely real wedding brides and grooms harboured secret crushes before one or the other plucked up the courage to make the first move. The lesson being, just go for it!

Boots and a thrifty colourful bow tie from Etsy, I already love this groom.

The stylish bride and groom both got ready at the same hotel, and although their wedding day was kept simple their outfits are filled with cute details. I love both their looks, you can tell it radiates each of their personalities.

Bows on the front and the back - you can't have too much of a good thing, right?

Back to the love story..After dating for only a few weeks Taha completely smitten proposed to Katlan. Not one to rush into things Katlan thought it was too soon. A year later she had been convinced, Taha proposed again and this time it was a resounding yes!

This veil and glove combo is just gorgeous. They compliment each other perrrfectly and the love heart veil is absolutely the right side of kitsch. (I can 100% see our own Karen decked out in both the bows and hearts!) As if this look wasn't cute enough the gloves were Katlan's grandmother’s from the 1950’s! Now to just source where I can pick up my own pair...

So what made Katlan and Taha decide to elope and celebrate without their family and friends? "From the beginning we both wanted a small wedding. We loved the idea of a destination wedding and wanted to keep it as stress-free as possible. I’ve never been the girl that wants a big wedding (however, I definitely wanted a wedding dress ). I also wanted to have a similar wedding to my parents, who got married in San Diego at a chapel with just their friends in attendance." Makes perfect sense - stick to your gut and celebrate the way YOU want to. As you can see from this wedding sticking true to yourself can work beautifully.

After a few fun photos at the hotel Katlan and Taha walked hand in hand to their wedding ceremony...

The perfectly matched boutonnière and bouquet are a pretty pop of colour. The bouquet was made from a mix of dried and handmade flowers, such a clever alternative if you want to keep your flowers super simple.

Alone with their celebrant Katlan and Taha shared their vows outside in beautiful sunny Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara became an obvious choice for the couple once they started looking online. Not only is it sunny and the perfect spot to honeymoon in after, but the courthouse is also pretty epic and made their civil ceremony feel that bit more special.

It's official! Such happy faces!

After the ceremony, and as they had no guests or reception to rush to, Katlan and Taha took some time to take some portraits together under the Californian sun both outdoors and in the grounds of the ornate courthouse.

Got a veil like Katlan's and want to replicate her cute hairstyle? Check out our One Fab Day guide to chignons and top knots, trust us it's super easy.

Is it just me or does an elopement look like a whole lot of fun?!

Suckers for wedding dress back detail, this combination of buttons, an open back AND a bow couldn't get much better.

Although it might seem daunting to veer so far away from a traditional wedding, if it's something you really want just go for it - as Katlan and Taha testify you won't regret it. "The day was special because it was just the two of us. We arrived in Santa Barbara a few days before the ceremony so we had time to relax and enjoy our time together (and take care of any last minute planning). I think our day was unique because we didn't have a typical wedding. We are so happy that we did things this way!"

Another Etsy find is Katlan's cute little straw bag - just the right size for all the essentials, plus a few wedding day snacks!

Although this wasn't your average wedding Katlan has some wise advice that applies to weddings both big and small "My advice would be to keep it simple! I know that is easy coming from someone who didn’t have any guests, but even planning our small ceremony, I found myself getting overwhelmed with all the details that go along with planning a wedding. I had to also remind myself to keep my expectations reasonable…sometimes things are not going to be perfect"

Huge congratulations to Katlan and Taha on their Californian wedding! Hope you guys had as much fun on your Santa Barbara honeymoon as you did on your wedding day!

A big thank you also goes to Sloan Photographers for sharing their beautiful work with us. You can see more of their lovely wedding photography here: www.sloanphotographers.com